OCR Text |
Show r i^ 8 The ProvoVd Wife. La. P. Then pray let m e recommend this Gentleman to you : I have known him fome time, and will be Surety for him, That upon a very limited Encouragement on your fide, you (hall find an extended Impu. dence on his. Heartf. I thank, you Madam, for your Recommen. dation : But hating Idlenefs, I'm unwilling to enter into a Place where I believe there would be nothing to do. I was fond of ferving your Ladyfhip, becaufe I knew you'd find m e conftant Employment. La. F. I told you he'd be rude, Belinda. Bel. O , a little Bluntnefs is a fign of Honefty, which makes m e always ready to pardon it. So, Sir, if you have no other Exceptions to m y Service, but the fear of being idle in it, you may venture to lift your felf; \ fhall find you Work, I warrant you. Heartf. Upon thofe Terms I engage, M a d a m ; and this (with your leave) I take for Earneft. [Ojfering to Qfs her Hand, Bel. Hold there, Sir ; I'm none of your Earneft-givers. But if I'm well ferv'd, I give good Wages, and pay punctually. [Heartf. and Bel. feem to continue talking familiarly. La. F. Afide I] I don't like this jefting between 'em Methinks the Fool begins to look as if he were in earneft but then he muft be a Fool indeed. Lard, what a difference there is between me and her. [Locking at Bel. fcornfully. H o w I fhou'd defpife fuch a thing, if I were a Man! What a Nofe fhe has What a Chin • What a Neck Then her Eyes And the worft killing Lips in theUniverfe - N o , no, he c m never like her, that's pofuive Yet I can't fuffer 'em together any longer. Mr. Heartfree, D o you know that you and I muft have no Quarrel for ail this ? I can't forbear being a little fe-vere n o w and then : But W o m e n , you know, may be allowed any thing. Heartf. U p to a certain Age, Madam. TheProvoPd Wifu* i<9 La. F. Which I'm not yet paft, I hope. Heartf. afide.] Nor never will, I dare fwear La. F.to Lady B. C o m e , Madam, will your Ladyfhip be Witnefs to our Reconciliation ? y La. B. You agree then at laft. Heartf. flightingly.] W e forgive. La. F. afide.] That was a cold ill-natur'd Reply. La. B. Then there's no Challenges fent between you ? Heartf. Not from m e , I promife. [Afide to Conftant.] But that's more dian I'll do for her, for I know fhe can as well be damn'd as forbear writing to me. Conft. That I believe. But I think we had beft be going, left flie fhould fufpeft fomething, and be malicious. ' Heartf. With all m y heart. Conft. Ladies, w e are your humble Servants. I fee Sir John is quite engag'd, 'twou'd be in vain to expeft him. Come Heartfree. [Exit. Heartf. Ladies, your Servant. [To Belinda.] 1 hope, Madam, you won't forget our Bargain ; I'm to fay what I pleafe to you. [Exit Heartfree. Bel. Liberty of Speech entire, Sir. La. F. afide.] Very pretty truly But how the Blockhead went out: Languifhing at her; and not a Look toward m e Well, Churchmen may talk, but Miracles are not ceas'd. For 'tis more than natural, fuch a rude Fellow as he, and fuch a little Impertinent as fhe, fhou'd be capable of making a W o m a n of m y Sphere uneafy. But I can beav her fight no longer ••• methinks fhe's grown ten times uglier than Cornet. I muft home, and ftudy Revenge. [To Lady B. ] Madam, your humble Servant; I muft take my leave. La. B. What, going already, M a d a m? La. F. I muft be^ you'll excufe m e this once ; for really I have eighteen Vifits to return this Afternoon : So you fee I a m importun'd by the W o m e n as well as the Men. Bel. afide.] And {he's quits with them both. La. |